Paper cup holder



Sept 3, '1957 H. HILL ETAL 2,805,017

PAPER CUP HOLDER Filed Sept. 9, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l Eil/E T122: T5

H. HILL ET AL Sept. 3, 1957 PAPERA CUP HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1953 fil? ken Spt. 3, 1957 H. HILL ETAL 2,805,017

PAPER CUP HOLDER Filed sept. 9, 1953 s sheets-sheet s' P LAQ mIW Inra mDr-'E PAPER CUP HOLDER Howard Hill and Herbert L. Bennett, Easton, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New `l'ersey Application September 9, 1953, Serial No. 379,235

11 Claims. (Cl. 229-15) This invention relates to improvements in a paper cup holder, and more particularly to a base type holder upon which the paper cup may seat, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, it has been customary to provide holders for paper cups having relatively deep cup receiving prtions which enclosed and covered a substantial part of the external surfaceof the cup. In some cases, the sooalled flat-bottom type of paper cups were used without` any holder whatever and, since these cups usually lare of a frus'to-conical shape, being larger at the mouth than at the base, they were frequently objectionably unstable, especially when used by children. Quite frequently the external side surface of paper cups are decorated in accordance with the desires of a customer. Naturally the customer wishes this decorative material to be visible .to the user, especially when it embodies advertising. At the same time stability is desired.

' It has now become desirable-to utilize `paper cups forY the-dispensing of various types ofV drinks in taverns, Naturally it isdesirable t`o` restaurants, and in homes. have cups of different shapesV consistent with'the type ofdrink being'served, so that the cup is of a shape and t desirable to have a stabilizing base to more than oisetY the normally top heavy character of the cup as 'well as to' enhance the appearance of the cup during use, and take away what might be called the picnic look. i

With the foregoing in mind, it isY an important-object of the instant invention to provide a-holder-for apaper cup, which holder functions as an enlarged base for the cup, stabilizing the same, and retaining. the cupjin a manner to leave the entire external side cup plainly visible to the user. l Y

Another object of the invention is the provision of a paper cup holder which functions as `a stabilizing base for thev cup, and is so constructed as toprovide a seat upon which the cup may rest andbefrictionally attached to the holder.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a holder for a paper cup shaped to function v as a stabilizing base for the cup, and having an opstanding portion which enters :a skirt-like-bottom on thecup, and

frictionally engages the same to 'establish' attachment between the cup and holder sufficient .to prevent accidental dislodgement.

:Also -a feature of this invention i holder for a paper cup which may be made of any suitable surface Vof the is the previstos of a hired States Patent i Fig; 9; and.V

structuralzfeatures,

material, such as metal, thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic, and which may well be made of one or more pieces, the holder being shaped to engage the very bottom portion of the cup, stabilize the same, and leave the external side wall of the cup visible to the user.

A further feature of the invention resides in the pro-V vision of a holder for a paper cup which may be readily shaped in accordance with a desired particular usage, depending upon .the particular type of drink to be served in the cups, the cup engaging portion of the holder remaining substantially the same regardless of the height or shape of the base portion of the holder. v

It is also a featurefof the invention to provide a holder for a paper cup which not only stabilizes the cup, but also tends to increase the height of the cup, whereby the cup and holder assembly will have in general the appearance and height of a thick bottomed article of glassware.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a holder for a paper cup, which holder functions .as a stabilizing base for the cup, and which holder is also equipped with means for lirmly engaging the lower porition of the cup, the holder being usable as a pickup:

holder; i. e., the holder may be graspedin the hand ot' the'operator, engaged with the terminal cup of a stack, and remove that terminal cup from the stack in substantial engagement with the holder, without the handsr of the operator contacting the cup, Y While some of the more salient features, characteristicsV and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become .apparent from the followy ing disclosures,` taken in conjunction with the accompanyv ing drawings, in which* Figure l is a part side elevational, part central verticali sectional'view of a iiat bottoni paper cup in operativel association with a vholderrembodying principles of theF instantinvention; i'

.Figure 2 is .a fragmentary` enlargementof the lower? left-hand portion of 'the structure of Fig. 1

.'Figurer3 is a fragmentary plan sectionalview Vtaken irn-I mediately beneath the bottom of the cup, substantially as. indicatedby the section lineY III-,III of Fig. `2, looking in? the direction of the: arrows; 'i

Figure 4 is a. View similar in character to showing a slightly modified form Yof holden:

Figure 5 is a part side elevation-al, part verticalsec tionalviewthrough a cupand` holder in assembled rela; j tionship,z the cup being ,of a diiferent character than thatf seenin'Fig; V1,' and the ,holder being of a diii'erent con" structiongV` Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentaryvertical' sectional view thrcnighthe -upper portion of the holder only, with thejcupremoved; Y Y vy 1 f f -Figure 7gis a view-of the general nature of Fig. Sybut showing astill different holderfconstruction;

`Figure `8 is'- aV fragmentary vertical sectional the'upper portion Vof Vthe holder'of Fig. 7; y

.Figure v9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewf; through afcup :and holderin operative association,'show Fig 2.15m#

view ofv 1 ing a still diiferent form of holder; v5 Y Figure -l-lis a part side elevational, part -vertical 'sec-v tional YviewY illustrating a different base formation-r for j aholder to adaptfit fordiiferent types ofgdrinks.'

Asshown on the drawings:VA Y t I 'f Y y All ofthe illustrated embodiments of the instant holder@ are shown associated witha papercup ofV theilat bottom type. Whilerdift'erent shapesjofcups areherein illus-- trated, all the cups save that of Fig;j7, embody thesamegl Referring to the cup illustrated in Figs. 1 andMZQthere is a body portion 1 having a rolled rim bead 2 around the mouth thereof, and provided with a flat bottom 3 having an upturned circumscribing flange 4 cemented to the inside of the body 1. The body portion of the cup extends below the 'bottom 3 to provide a depending skirt 5 defined by a reversely and upwardly inturned marginal portion 6 which, as seen in 2, terminates short of the bottom 3 on the inside of the skirt and denes therewith la radially inwardly opening groove.

In that illustrated form of the holder seen in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, there is shown a one piece holder which may be molded, stamped, or otherwise formed from any suitable material such as metal, thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic. The holder includes an expanded stabilizing base portion 7, and an upstanding cylindrical part 8 of less diameter. The part 8 is' provided with a llat top 9 in keeping with the flat bottom 3 of the cup, and also with a central aperture 10 inthe top portion 9 through which a finger or thumb may be inserted to eject the cup from the holder, after the cup has been used.

As seen in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the upstanding portion 8 curves into the top 9 as indicated at 12, and adjacent this curvature a plurality of equally spaced lugs or tongues 13 are struck from the holder and bent to project outwardly for frictional engagement with the skirt portion 5 of the cup. Preferably, as seen in Fig. 3, when engagement is established, each projection 13 overlies the upper edge of the inturned margin 6 of the cup, and may even dent the outer wall portion of the skirt 5 as indicated at 15, thereby establishing rm frictional engagement with the cup so that the cup may be handled in the same manner as a glass, without the holder falling from the cup when it is picked up for drinking purposes.

In use, it is a simple expedient for an operator to grasp the holder by the base 7, press it firmly into the terminal -cup of a stack of inverted cups to establish positive engagement in the manner above described with that terminal cup, then lift the terminal cup oi the stack and turn both the cup and holder into upright position. Of course, an individual cup may be taken and pressed downwardly upon the top of the holder already setting in upright position, if so desired, but that method requires the operator to contact the cup with his hands. By either method, the cup is firmly engaged with the holder, frictionally or bitingly, as the case may be, and the cup may be filled with any desired liquid and thereafter handled in the same manner as an ordinary water glass, without the holder dropping from the cup until it is intentionally ejected from the holder by pressing a finger or thumb against the bottom of the cup through the aperture 10 in the top of the holder. that when the cup is engaged with the holder, the entire external side wall portion of the cup is plainly visible so that any decoration or advertising appearing thereon is at once discerned by the user.

The assembly seen in Fig. 1 is highly satisfactory for use in restaurants and homes for water, milk, and similar beverages, or for use in taverns for highballs or beer. It will be noted that the holder not only stabilizes the cup against accidental upsetting, but also increases the height of the cup so that the assembly is of substantially the same height and capacity as the ordinary lthick bottomed tumbler, the holder compensating for the thickness of a tumbler bottom.

Y"The structure illustrated in Fig. 4 is the same as that above described, with a single exception. In this instance, the holder is provided with an annular shoulder 16 for the lower end of the cup skirt 5 to seat upon when the holder and cup are connected. This arrangement prevents an overzealous or careless operator from pushing in the bottom of the cup when attaching the holder and thus causing leakage. This structure of Fig. 4 is desirable particularly where drink dispensing service must be accomplished very rapidly.

In Figs. 5 and 6 We have shown a still dilerent form It will be especially noted of construction for the holder, and lin this instance have illustrated the holder in operative position with a paper cup having a body 1a which is less in height and somewhat larger in diameter than the body 1 previously described. Otherwise the cup shown in Fig. 5 is of the same construction as that seen in Fig. l. The holder in this instance comprises an expanded stabilizing base portion 17 having an upright or upstanding cylindrical part 18 thereon, a top 19 on the part 18, and a central aperture 20 in the top 19. The holder shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is preferably of molded type and an annular recess 21 is formed in the upper portion of the part 18 leaving an annular rim 22 projecting for engagement above the inwardly turned marginal portion 6 of the cup skirt 5 as seen in Fig. 5. This bead part 22 need not be continuous, if so desired, but may comprise spaced circumfcrential segments.

In this instance, an upwardly extending and outwardly inclined flange 23 is provided on the .base or holder around the upstandin-g part 18. This ange 23 is either inclined or curvate, so as to define a gradually downwardly narrowing passage 24 between itself and the part 18 of the holder. The flange functions as a guide for easy seating of the cup in the holder or the holder over the cup when the two are joined together, and also guides the skirt of the cup into seating position in the annular groove 21 and with the inside margin of the skirt in positive engagement with the projection 22. Of course, if so desired, the ange 23 need not be continuous all around, but may be made in the form of spaced angelike segments. With this arrangement a positive grip or holding action upon the cup is readily created, as in the previously described embodiments.

In Figs. 7 and 8, we have illustrated a structure substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 5 and 6, with the single exception that the upstanding portion 18 of the holder is reduced in diameter in the upper part thereof to define an annular shoulder 25 upon which the lower edge of the cupskirt Smay seat when the holder is joined/with the cup. The projection 22 is omitted in the structure of Figs. 7 and 8, and the union between the cup and the holder is effected by squeezing the skirt S of the cup between the flange-like means 23 and the part 18 of the holder above the shoulder 2S. In this instance, there is no engagement over an upwardly turned portion 6 of the cup. With this arrangement, the cup bottom may be of a different formation. In this instance, a bottom 26 is shown, but the turned ange portion 27 on that bottom is disposed downwardly, rather than upwardly as in the previously described embodiments. Thus a triple thickness is provided in the skirt of the cup, and with that arrangement the grip provided by the holder on the cup'is even stronger than it would be with Y the dual thickness skirt of the previous embodiments.

However, the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8 as to Ithe holder is satisfactory and will suthciently grip a dual thickness skirt, if such cup is utilized.

In Figs. 9 and 10 we have shown a still different form of holder, and in this instance the holder is of a type that might more satisfactorily be used with cups sized to hold certain cocktails or of a size corresponding to a tomato juice glass. The holder includes a base portion 28 which is higher than either of the base portions above described. An upstanding cylindrical part 29 is carried on the base, and this portion is provided with spaced pairs of slots at periodic intervals, as indicated at 30. These slots deneresilient upwardly extending fingers having on their free ends radially outwardly projecting teeth or lugs 31, evenly spaced around the part 29. In the illustrated instance there` are four such teeth or lugs 31, and when the holder is pressed into the skirt portion of the cup, or the cup is pushed over the holder, the lugs contract or are inwardly sprung, and then snap into enconstruction for theV holder embodied in this invention, we have not shown any top in the holder of Figs. 9 and 10,' and the cup may be ejected frornthe holder by pressing upon vthe Acup body directly through the top opening inthe tubular holder. However, 'the upper edge of the upper portion 29 provides a shoulder on which the cup bottom'eng'ages." i l Y YSince all forms of cups herein illustrated and described are papel-cups,- e'veryfo'rm of holder may be readily engaged with the cup, since the skirt portion of the cup will yield suiiiciently to establish positive engagement with the holder as` portions of the, holder enter the skirt.

. In Fig. V11 we haveillustrated a holder having the same cup engaging mechanism as that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The cup, -while havingthe s ame construction as the cup of Fig. Vl, has a shortenedbody portiony 1b, of a sizpe for various cocktails.v l

In this instance, the holder is provided with a base 32 from which a relatively slender stem 33 arises, the stem in turn merging into a false bottom portion 34 connected with the upstanding part 8 that extends within the skirt of the cup. Thus, the holder and cup assembly simulates a cocktail glass.

The illustration in Fig. ll is to indicate that the base portion of the holder may be of substantially any desirable height and shape so that the entire assembly may simulate the traditional glass for substantially any form of drink.

By the provision at the tips of the several holders of shoulder means engageable with the bottom of the cup inside of the depending skirt, proper axial orientation of the cup with the holder in each instance is assured. Furthermore, by the provision of a central opening in the tops of the holders, digital ejection of used cups from the holders is enabled by engagement of the cup bottom in each instance through the holder and the opening.

From the foregoing it is apparent that we have provided a simple and economical form of paper cup holder, readily and easily engageable with a cup with an engagement suiciently positive to eliminate accidental dislodgement, and which holder eiects an engagement so that substantially the entire external side portion of the cup remains exposed. In each instance the cup itself may be grasped by the hand, and used in the manner of a glass, with the holder remaining attached to the cup, with the possible exception of the structure shown in Fig. ll, where it would be more natural to hold the stem of the holder. The holders may be made in various sizes and shapes as may the cups, so that the assemblies may simulate any traditionally known form of drinking glass. The holders are long lived, extremely durable, and may be repeatedly used.

It will be understood that modiiications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A holder for a flexible hat-bottom paper cup having an annular depending skirt below the cup bottom and with a reversely and upwardly inturned marginal portion terminating adjacent to the iiat-bottom, said holder being formed of a material providing a relatively rigid base, and an upstanding portion on said base to enter Vthe cup skirt, and said upstanding portion having adjacent spaced pairs of slots defining therebetween respective upwardly extending resilient lingers on said portion provided at their upper free ends with generally radially outwardly projecting gripping lugs to et't'ect holding engagement with the inside of the cup skirt over said inturned marginal portion. 2. A holder as defined in claim l, including substantially aligned with the tops yof the gripping lugs a shoulder engageable with the bottom of the paper cup for coaxial orientation of the cup with the holder.

3. In combination, a flat-bottom exible paper cup having an annular skirt generally aligned with the side wall of cup a-ndextending below'the cup bottom, said skirt i having` a reversely andupwardly inturned marginal portion terminating short of the hat-bottom and defining a radially inwardly openingl groove with the bottom, and a holder comprising a base of relatively rigid material with an upstanding portion on said base positioned within the` ability of the cup skirt relative tothe holder compensating for variations in dimensions in the lower parts of the cup, said upstanding portion being open under the cup to enable digital ejection of the cup by engaging the cup bottomithrough theholderandthe opening.

4. In combination, a flat-bottom flexible paper cup of upright wall form having an annular skirt generally aligned with the upright wall and extending below the cup bottom, said skirt having a reversely and upwardly inturned marginal portion terminating short of the tiat bottom and defining a radially inwardly opening groove with the bottom, and a holder comprising a substantially rigid base of substantially greater diameter than said skirt to afford stability against tipping, with a central upstanding portion on said base of a diameter to lit closely within the cup skirt and provided on the upper end of the upstanding portion with a supporting shoulder on which the cup bottom rests, said upstanding portion having projecting generally radially outwardly relative to and adjacent to said shoulder retaining lug means to frictionally enter into the cup skirt and upwardly past said inturned marginal portion and engaging over the upper end of said marginal portion within said groove for thereby interlockingly engaging the holder with the cup to be handled as a unit.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said lug means comprise a plurality of tongues extending rigidly in radially outwardly projecting relation from the top portion of said upstanding portion.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein the upstanding portion has a generally upwardly facing external shoulder thereon below said lug means engageable by the lower edge of said skirt as a safety stop to prevent over extension of the lower end portion of the cup relative to the holder for thereby preventing damage to the bottom of the cup resting on said top shoulder.

7. The combination of claim 4 including, in addition, an upwardly and outwardly inclined iiange carried by the holder radially outwardly alongside said upstanding portion and serving as a guide for easy seating of the cup on the holder.

8. The combination of claim 4, wherein said lug means comprise upstanding resilient fingers on said upstanding portion of the holder and with generally radially outwardly projecting lugs on the upper free ends of the ngers.

9. In combination, a hat-bottom iiexible paper cup of upright wall form having an annular skirt generally aligned with the upright wall and extending below the cup bottom, said skirt having a reversely and upwardly inturned marginal portion terminating adjacent to the cup bottom, and a holder comprising a wide base of substantially rigid structure and of a substantially greater diameter than said skirt with a central upstanding xed portion on `said base dimensioned to t closely within said s'kirt and providing an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with the cup for coaxial orientation of the cup with the base, said upstanding portion having a radially outwardly facing upstanding wall area tting inside of said inturned cup skirt marginal portion, and said upstanding portion in addition having thereon annular cup-skirt-retaining means disposed in radially outwardly offset relation to said wall area and engaging retainingly with said 7 skirt by substantially straight axial relative assembly movement of the cup and holder to thereby hold the cup and the holder firmly butv releasably together to be V11andledas a unit in the use of the cup and with thebase of the holder providing a lateral stability support substantially precluding tipping of the unit even when the cup is full of liquid contents. s

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said upwardly facing shoulder comprises a top surface on said central upstanding fixed portion on said base.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said upwardly facing shoulder is located at the bottom of said radially outwardly facing upstanding Wall area for engagement by the lower edge of the cup skirt.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 71,226 Scott et al. Nov. 19, 1867 S RhodesV -..y Ian. 19, Rider May 1, Noyes Sept. 12, `Moore Sept. V6, Kade May 5, Kasten Sept. 3', Luck et al. Sept.v 28, Gill Sept. 3, ONeil et al. Oct. 5,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 17, Great Britain Aug, 25, yGreat Britain June 30, Great Britain lune 7, Great Britain Aug. 26, Italy lune 17, 

